<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Observations were made on the autumn migration of <italic>Accipitriformes</italic> over the islands of Marettimo and Pantelleria, located between western Sicily and Tunisia (Central Mediterranean). A total of 7451 raptors was counted between 24 August and 12 September 2003, mostly adult Honey Buzzards <italic>Pernis apivorus</italic> - 4045, and Black Kites <italic>Milvus migrans</italic> - 2489. Mixed-age flocks were regularly reported for the Black Kite (1956 adults and 533 juveniles estimated) confirming information transmission concerning orientation behaviour in this species. Although in the Honey Buzzard juveniles tend to migrate later than adults, crossing the Mediterranean on a broad front mostly after mid-September, we observed some mixed-age flocks, estimating the passage of 3830 adults and 215 juveniles. In particular, over Pantelleria we recorded in seven cases juveniles in flocks of adults heading towards WNW, presumably learning (similarly to juvenile Black Kites) the shortest route over water to reach Africa from this site. A total of 72 Egyptian Vultures <italic>Neophron percnopterus</italic> - 62 adults, 6 juveniles and 4 sub-adults - was counted over Marettimo confirming that their greatest concentration during autumn migration through Italy occurs at this island. In this species, all juveniles were seen migrating in flocks of adults. Finally, the passage of hundreds of Marsh Harriers <italic>Circus aeruginosus</italic> was reported, mostly over Pantelleria. Among adult harriers, it was possible to estimate the passage of birds belonging to different sex classes; unlike in the previous studies made in central, southern continental Italy and Malta during autumn migration, adult females outnumbered adult males (372 <italic>vs</italic> 298 individuals). Finally, considering the huge number of <italic>Accipitriformes</italic> observed, Pantelleria, so as Marettimo, should be enclosed among Important Bird Areas for the autumn migration of raptors in the Mediterranean basin.</abstract>

Via Carlo Alberto 4, 89046 Marina di Gioiosa Jonica (RC), Italy

Via G. Pierluigi Da Palestrina 20, 40141 Bologna, Italy

Via Provinciale 69, 24022 Alzano Lombardo (BG), Italy

Via Ruffini 12, 41010 Piumazzo (MO), Italy

Crossing the sea en route to Africa: autumn migration of some <italic>Accipitriformes</italic> over two Central Mediterranean islands

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">On 28 August 2003 under the auspices of the SE European Bird Migration Network (SEEN) a new Egyptian Ringing Station - Saluga and Ghazal began to operate. The paper provides information about the location of the station, its habitat, methods of work and species composition of caught birds.</abstract>

Saluga and Ghazal Protected Area, Regional Planning of Aswan, Kornesh El-Nile, 81111 Aswan, Egypt

Wadi El Rayan Protected Area, El Fayoum, Egypt

Wadi Allaqi Protected Area, Regional Planning of Aswan, Kornesh El-Nile, 81111 Aswan, Egypt

Dept. of Zoology, University of Podlasie, Prusa 12, PL-08-110 Siedlce, Poland

Bird Migration Research Station, Univ. of Gdańsk, Przebendowo, PL-84-210 Choczewo, Poland

Saluga and Ghazal Ringing Station - a new ringing station in Egypt

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The computerised bird monitoring system devised on the basis of MRL-5 meteorological radar enables to perform around-the-clock automated bird monitoring. The paper presents an algorithm for identifying bird signals against a background of other objects. The radar signal reflected from a flying bird changes its location in space. In case the flight direction remains unchanged, the coordinates of the corresponding radio echoes obtained as a result of successive azimuth scans form a straight line. This enables to isolate bird radio echoes from those of motionless or chaotically moving objects, such as ground clutter, clouds, precipitation, atmospheric inhomogeneities, <italic>etc.</italic> In the proposed algorithm, the coordinates thus obtained are used for estimation of vectors of individual birds and bird groups.In order to identify a bird signal, its fluctuation pattern is analysed. A fluctuation pattern is determined by the frequency of wing-flapping that is characteristic of a certain bird species. The analysis of the spectra of signals obtained in the study indicates that the proposed algorithm enables to isolate bird radio echoes with approximately 85% confidence. The technique implying simultaneous measurements of signal fluctuation pattern and of the effective scattering area (ESA) forms a promising basis for further studies aimed at determining the species of flying birds by means of radar.</abstract>

George S. Wise Faculty of Natural Sciences, Dept. of Zoology, Tel- Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel

Institute of the Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

Brain Research Institute, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel

Detecting birds and estimating their velocity vectors by means of MRL-5 meteorological radar

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The aim of the paper is limited to a rough describing peculiarities of relations between fat deposit level and the body mass as well as a seasonal and diurnal dynamics of catching at an inland study site located far to the North from important geographical barriers on the Sedge Warbler migration to Central Africa. Material was collected in 1999 and 2000 from July (11 Jul. 1999 and 28 Jul. 2000) till 29 August in L'viv province (western Ukraine). In the present paper 1066 Sedge Warblers caught in 1999 and 407 ones caught in 2000 were taken under consideration. Their body mass and fat score were recorded according to rules published by Busse (1983, 2000). During elaboration of the data the idea of body mass standardisation for a defined fat score (<italic>T</italic>2) was adopted (Busse 1970) and adequate correction values (<italic>ci</italic>) were calculated. Because of the obtained results a new procedure of the correction values defining - if the data allow - is proposed.In both years adults were highly significantly heavier than immatures. This finding leads to conclusion that summarising data for adult and immature Sedge Warblers in calculation of body mass correction values would result in significant growth of variance. Having compared the body mass in years 1999 and 2000 a pronounced difference between immatures was found. In 1999 the first period of migration was characterised by relatively high representation of adults (16.8%) and a low fat level (average fat score <italic>T</italic> = 1.76 and relative fat load <italic>t</italic> = -0.12 g for adults, while <italic>T</italic> = 1.57 and <italic>t</italic> = -0.21 g for immatures). This time was probably premigration dispersion and gaining of fat before migration rather than real migration movements. The share of adults among Sedge Warblers migrating in second and third periods was very similar in both studied years (1999 - 9.43% and 2000 - 9.46%). The fat load of birds caught during these periods was higher than in the starting period but still rather low as for long-distance migrants (<italic>T</italic> = 2.06-2.42 and <italic>t</italic> = 0.03-0.21 g for adults, <italic>T</italic> = 1.90-2.30 and <italic>t</italic> = -0.05-0.16 g for immatures). Both the fat load and body mass was growing during a day. The most interesting here were the differences in the growth rate: the average fat load grew during a day by 0.27 g while direct values of the actual body mass differed by as much as 0.84 g (that is more than two times more). This relation was repeated in 2000. That could mean that visible fat deposit does not reflect all gained fuel, but it should be studied more deeply than even big samples, from two years only, allow.Analysing changes of the fat load and the body mass one must keep in mind that observed differences in the fat scores of birds caught in different parts of a day could be caused by two separate processes: (1) feeding and accumulation of fuel reserves (passing borders set in a fat scoring procedure) and (2) possible differentiation of the diurnal activity of birds that already have different levels of stored fat.</abstract>

Dept. of Zoology and Zoological Museum, Ivan Franko National University of L'viv, Hrushevsky str. 4, L'viv 79005, Ukraine

Bird Migration Research Station, University of Gdańsk, Przebendowo, PL-84-210 Choczewo, Poland

Variation in body mass and fat reserves of the Sedge Warbler <italic>Acrocephalus schoenobaenus</italic> on autumn migration in the L'viv province (W Ukraine)

Sekcja Ornitologiczna Koła Naukowego Biologów, Instytut Biologii, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Świerkowa 20B, PL-15-950 Białystok, Poland

Pałecznica 152, PL-21-100 Lubartów, Poland

Towarowa 2a/48, PL-15-007 Białystok, Poland

Bird migration study-site Siemianówka (E Poland) in 2002-2003

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Wing lengths of nestlings of Great Tit <italic>Parus major</italic>, Blue Tit <italic>P. caeruleus</italic> and Pied Flycatcher <italic>Ficedula hypoleuca</italic> measured by one observer (WK) were compared with the measurements taken concurrently by one of 30 other observers. In total 1321 pairs of measurements were analysed. The differences between the measurers were found to: (1) depend on wing length; (2) vary between distinct wing-length classes and species; (3) be bigger in the case of inexperienced measurers (4) be small, only exceeding ± 1 mm in 7% cases and ± 2 mm in 0.5% cases. Such small measurement errors did not significantly bias the wing-length-based age estimation. The average differences between the age estimates derived from wing length taken by WK and other experienced measurers ranged from -0.3 to +0.3 day for various measurers, species and wing-length classes when 1-3 day-old nestlings (1-5 day-old in Blue Tit) were excluded. For the latter nestlings as well as for inexperienced measurers that range was -0.4-. +0.8 day.</abstract>

Observer error in measurements of nestling wing length in small passerines

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Wing length measurements taken from first-year, pre- and post-moulting (annual, complete) Clamorous Reed Warblers were recorded at a site in northern Israel. The resulting data set was examined using a time-series of residuals (CUSUM). Results from this analysis can explain the reported heterogeneity found in a comparable data set by Merom <italic>et al.</italic> (1999). Further observations made in their paper are rebutted: (1) an implied assumption that Reed Warbler (<italic>Acrocephalus scirpaceus</italic>) spring migration in Israel ends by 1 May is contrary to other publications; (2) the late autumn occurence in N Israel of longer-winged 1st cal. yr. Reed Warblers, unconvincingly explained as either delayed migration by larger individuals or post fledging feather growth, is most likely due to birds from different provenances origins moving at different seasons; (3) growth during adulthood in Reed Warbler is not a new discovery, though presented as such.</abstract>

Wing lengths of Clamorous Reed Warblers <italic>Acrocephalus stentoreus</italic> in Israel

50 Years of <italic>The Ring</italic> Half a Century of Service to the Bird Ringing

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The Ring

 The on-line version of the journal is a primary one to the printed edition. The Ring is an international journal dealing with problems of bird ringing, migration and monitoring bird numbers. The main fields of interest are original papers, review articles and methodical discussions. Information, progress reports, personal comments and short notes or news are also accepted to the informative columns of the journal. Although papers are refereed, conclusions, opinions and discussion are published on the author's responsibility. Innovative and even controversial ideas are appreciated.  Why subscribe and read  Excellent source of high quality research on bird migration; original articles on:   migration strategies (long jumps vs. short jumps; stopover ecology; fattening strategy; obligatory vs. partial migration, etc.);  migratory patterns (breeding/wintering areas and flyways; migration dynamics and phenology, distances and migration speed, etc.);  populational differentiation of migrating birds (incl. mechanisms isolating different populations, morphological differentiation and morphometrics studies, etc.);  long-term monitoring of migratory bird populations.   Why submit   transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,  innovative ideas are appreciated.   Rejection Rate   About 10%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

The Ring

Volume 26 (2004): Issue 2 (January 2004)

Crossing the sea en route to Africa: autumn migration of some Accipitriformes over two Central Mediterranean islands

Saluga and Ghazal Ringing Station - a new ringing station in Egypt

Detecting birds and estimating their velocity vectors by means of MRL-5 meteorological radar

Variation in body mass and fat reserves of the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus on autumn migration in the L'viv province (W Ukraine)

Bird migration study-site Siemianówka (E Poland) in 2002-2003

Observer error in measurements of nestling wing length in small passerines

Wing lengths of Clamorous Reed Warblers Acrocephalus stentoreus in Israel

50 Years of The Ring Half a Century of Service to the Bird Ringing

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